Von der Leyen: “Europe must be United”

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With a narrow majority, Ursula von der Leyen, to the top of the EU was elected Commission. In a DW Interview, she talks about the vote in Strasbourg and their objectives in Brussels.

Deutsche Welle: wife of the Leyen, how are you?

Von der Leyen: I’m relieved and happy. The past 13 days have been hard: I had to develop political guidelines and the members of the convince me – and in a short time. Now I have it behind me, and I’m happy.

It is a burden that you were elected with only nine votes over the majority?

A majority is a majority. And has not signed off two weeks ago still. I can understand because the members have made it clear that you get to know me better and more about my program wanted to know. You said, “we want to know the details and points to this vote”. It was a hard and intense time, the most intense in my political career. But now I’m satisfied.

Are you satisfied with your candidate’s speech and the reactions to it?

Yes, because I have made my Beliefs clear, that it is worth to fight for this Europe. It’s worth it to tell the story of our United and strong Europe, as I see it for the future. And that’s why this was an important Moment.

You have promised in your speech a lot. You do realize that it is hard to keep all the promises, is it?

It’s not about promises, it’s about what is right! This is politics, something, want what we bring forward. If we want the Europe is carbon neutral by 2050, we must act. We must have the courage to approach, to reach these goals – for our planet and for our lives. All of these issues are so extremely important. We must tackle very ambitious.

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Ursula von der Leyen is EU Commission President

What has the highest priority?

From my point of view, the climate neutrality by 2050 – coupled with the reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 – and the digitisation of the highest priority. These are the biggest problems, but also opportunities that we need to address.

You must work with a divided Parliament where it will be hard, majorities together. The European Council is also divided. There is a gap between Eastern Europeans and the other member States, for example, in terms of Migration. How do you deal with it?

We must overcome the separation between East and West necessarily. I know that Eastern Europeans often have the feeling to be in the EU not fully recognised. As a Federal defence Minister, I was very often in these countries, and I have many colleagues who trust me. So I know how to work together and the relationships can improve. In addition, there is also a separation between the North and the South. This has to do with competitiveness and flexibility. Also this gap we have to overcome, because Europe needs to be United. There are many great questions that we need to tackle. Europe must play a role – and we can only do that if we are in agreement.

What’s in this summer?

I will study in Brussels, the new EU Commission to bring together and to my Agenda to work, I need to submit in October.

The conversation Max Hofmann led.